WASHINGTON, February 3, 2011 (Water Tech) — EPA to regulate perchlorate in drinking water

JACKSONVILLE, FL, February 4, 2011 (Water Tech) — Chlorine content reaches three times normal limit in Florida community

SACRAMENTO, CA, February 4, 2011 (Water Tech) — Perchlorate Information Bureau responds to EPA decision

WASHINGTON, February 24, 2011 (Water Tech) — Clean Water America Alliance releases ‘Water Sustainability Principles’

EPA to regulate perchlorate in drinking water

WASHINGTON, February 3, 2011 (Water Tech) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to move forward with the development of a regulation for perchlorate and other toxic chemicals in drinking water, according to a press release. The decision, which reverses a 2008 preliminary determination by the previous administration, was made after EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson ordered EPA scientists to undertake a thorough review of the emerging science of perchlorate.

Research indicates that perchlorate may impact normal function of the thyroid, which produces critical hormones for the growth and development of fetuses, infants and children, the release stated.

Based on this potential concern, EPA will initiate the process of developing a formal rule; the process will include receiving input from key stakeholders and submitting the rule to a public comment process.

In a separate action, EPA is also moving towards establishing a drinking water standard to address a group of up to 16 toxic chemicals that may pose risks to human health.

Multi-Pure Commentary:

Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.

Chlorine content reaches three times normal limit in Florida community

JACKSONVILLE, FL, February 4, 2011 (Water Tech) — The chlorine content of drinking water in the Springfield community near Jacksonville, Fla., soared to three times the normal amount after a malfunction at a nearby water treatment plant, News4jax.com reported.
Residents started out just smelling the difference, but soon found their clothes to be ruined due to the chemical bleaching effect, according to the story.

“We are not aware of any health issues as a result of this. We are working with (the Department of Environmental Protection) to make sure this does not happen again,” said JEA spokeswoman Gerri Boyce.

The water was flushed of all extra chlorine sometime on Monday, the article stated.

Perchlorate Information Bureau responds to EPA decision

SACRAMENTO, CA, February 4, 2011 (Water Tech) — The Perchlorate Information Bureau (PIB), an organization dedicated to improving public dialogue on the facts about perchlorate, has issued a statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent decision to develop a regulation for perchlorate in drinking water.

According to the statement, “The best available science, federal statute and EPA’s own Office of Inspector General all point to the conclusion that a national perchlorate standard is not needed and would not provide a meaningful public health benefit.”

According to EPA guidelines, three criteria must be met for a federal standard to be warranted on any compound.

The criteria include: The compound must cause an adverse effect on human health; the compound must be present in drinking water systems at a frequency and level of public health concern; and regulating the compound must result in a meaningful reduction in risk to public health.

PIB argues that perchlorate meets none of the criteria and that a national standard will be of questionable public health benefit.

“EPA’s determination, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence contradicting it, now starts what will likely be a multi-year process of scientific review and public input before a final decision is made,” PIB stated. “The public should expect that commitments by President Obama and EPA Administrator Jackson to science-based regulation would be upheld throughout such a process, and that regulations will protect both public health and scarce public resources.”

Multi-Pure Commentary:

Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Perchlorate.

Clean Water America Alliance releases ‘Water Sustainability Principles’

WASHINGTON, February 24, 2011 (Water Tech) — The Clean Water America Alliance announced that its “Water Sustainability Principles for a National Policy Framework” is now available for download, according to a press release.

The principles were developed through several 2010 national dialogues and refined further by a recent meeting of 50 water leaders representing water associations from drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, energy, research and other interests.